- Joined
- May 15, 2010
- Messages
- 3,708
- Reaction score
- 393
- Location
- Central Florida
- LOCATION
- Lake County, Central Florida
One of the last people on Earth that knew my Dad passed a few weeks ago. Kind of sobering when you think about that.
He lived over near Crystal River/Homosassa area, near the West Coast of Florida.
I had caught up with him over a decade or so ago when I re-joined the Antique Outboard Club and the Florida Chapter.
He and I struck up a conversation about a few engines and he asked me over to his house. Was glad I went.
He has a garage/shop that most of us would absolutely die for. Overhead hoist, aluminum test tank and huge square footage. Probably around 60 x 60.
Oh, has his own private boat ramp that lines up perfectly with the rear door on the shop.
Was a great visit and toward the end he pointed out a little engine up above his shop office. The Conversation went something like this.....
Claude - "You see that little engine up there on the left? "
Me - "Sure do, what is it?"
Claude - Do you remember that engine being in your Dad's showroom in his Johnson dealership in the Keys? "
Me - " Claude, honestly all I remember was a small engine on a stand that I played with. Never saw it move"
Claude - "Well, that was your Dads"
And that was as far as the conversation went about the engine. Did I want it? Hell yes! But it was not offered so I had to respect that.
This was over ten years ago.
Claude's widow called me a couple weeks ago and asked if I would help identify all of his engines and price them. I did that today. In this part of my life I get a lot of enjoyment "giving back" to folks. Be it with information on engines or helping in situations like this. I would hope someone would do that for me.
Anyway..... I had mentioned to her that one particular engine meant a great deal to me and told her the history behind it.
She gave it to me for helping her.
The engine is a 1934 Johnson J-70. Single cylinder and rated at 1.4hp.
I made it home around 7PM......by 7:45 or so the engine fired up again.
Thanks, Claude!
He lived over near Crystal River/Homosassa area, near the West Coast of Florida.
I had caught up with him over a decade or so ago when I re-joined the Antique Outboard Club and the Florida Chapter.
He and I struck up a conversation about a few engines and he asked me over to his house. Was glad I went.
He has a garage/shop that most of us would absolutely die for. Overhead hoist, aluminum test tank and huge square footage. Probably around 60 x 60.
Oh, has his own private boat ramp that lines up perfectly with the rear door on the shop.
Was a great visit and toward the end he pointed out a little engine up above his shop office. The Conversation went something like this.....
Claude - "You see that little engine up there on the left? "
Me - "Sure do, what is it?"
Claude - Do you remember that engine being in your Dad's showroom in his Johnson dealership in the Keys? "
Me - " Claude, honestly all I remember was a small engine on a stand that I played with. Never saw it move"
Claude - "Well, that was your Dads"
And that was as far as the conversation went about the engine. Did I want it? Hell yes! But it was not offered so I had to respect that.
This was over ten years ago.
Claude's widow called me a couple weeks ago and asked if I would help identify all of his engines and price them. I did that today. In this part of my life I get a lot of enjoyment "giving back" to folks. Be it with information on engines or helping in situations like this. I would hope someone would do that for me.
Anyway..... I had mentioned to her that one particular engine meant a great deal to me and told her the history behind it.
She gave it to me for helping her.
The engine is a 1934 Johnson J-70. Single cylinder and rated at 1.4hp.
I made it home around 7PM......by 7:45 or so the engine fired up again.
Thanks, Claude!
